120 Film on a Budget | 5 of my Favorite Affordable 120 Medium Format Film Rolls

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Shooting film is expensive. I’m not gonna lie, I spend most of my extra money on film. As a photographer though, I’m more than okay with that. There’s really nothing else in the world I’d rather spend my money on! But I can understand that if photography was just a hobby, it’s hard to justify spending so much money on film and processing. Especially if you’re interested in shooting medium format, the price-point goes up even higher because you’re paying just as much as 35mm, but for less images on a roll. Over the years, I’ve priced out dozens of film brands and I wanted to share the ones that I keep going back to time and time again. These 120 films are a great balance of quality and affordability. I’m extremely tight with my money ( I get it from my dad!) so I’m always on the lookout for a good deal. Keep in mind that it usually helps to buy in bulk too, since you’ll be saving on shipping costs. I also keep an eye out for sales, particularly during Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend and other major holidays. But regardless of deals and discounts, these 5 different 120 films are typically available at a lower price that their competitors, and you still get great images!

Plus, there have been whispers of 120 film slowly dying, which is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Medium format film is absolutely incredible and so so special. I’ll do everything I can to keep it alive, even if that means buying it all myself and spending my life savings on it! But maybe you guys and gals can help me out in saving 120 film by buying some yourself! Let’s save 120 film together! Please!

Anyway, here are 5 of my favorite affordable 120 medium format film brands!

1. KODAK GOLD 200

Kodak Gold 200 is surprisingly affordable for the quality that you get. I always bring a roll of it with me on every beach vacation or any time I want my images to have a golden tone. It’s super duper sharp too and has become one of the main 120 films that I use consistently. For a 200 speed film, it does decently well in low light and is perfectly saturated. I find to be one of the easiest films to tweak during scanning too, so I’m able to alter it and adjust the tones if I decide to make my images a little cooler or warmer. I scan all of my film myself with a Epson Perfection v750 scanner so I have a lot more control than if my film lab scanned it for me. I love this film and as long as it stays this affordable, I’ll always have it in my camera bag! I have this feeling that Kodak may raise the price in the future so I’d grab it while you can!

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon

Adorama

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2. LOMOGRAPHY COLOR 100 OR 400

Lomography Color 120 films comes in two different film speeds, 100 and 400. I typically have both of these in my arsenal because it’s super saturated and fun! I find it to be bright and colorful, which is very helpful when shooting with cameras like a Holga or Diana F+. Toy cameras always benefit from a little extra color and sharpness. The 100 speed film is going to be a bit sharper, but just remember that you’ll need more light. I recommend only shooting the 100 speed film in bright sunlight or with a bright flash. The 400 speed film is more versatile and better for cloudy days or lower light. If you’re going to be in a dark environment and really need some leeway, they also have an 800 ISO film. I don’t typically go for 800 speed films because it’s just a bit too grainy for me. I shoot with a lot of toy cameras and I’m already fighting to make those images as sharp as possible so the extra grain doesn’t tend to help! You’ll notice there isn’t a huge difference in the 100 and 400 ISO films, so I included samples of both below.

WHERE TO BUY

LOMOGRAPHY COLOR 100 120 FILM

eBay

KEH Camera

LOMOGRAPHY COLOR 400 120 FILM

Amazon

Adorama


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3. LOMOGRAPHY LOMOCHROME METROPOLIS 100-400

Lomography Lomochrome Metropolis is more of a funky, unusual film that might be fun if you’re looking for something different! It’s known for it’s slightly desaturated look and strong contrast. I love that it has a vintage vibe to it that works well with toy cameras. I’ve only used this film a few times so far but I’m excited to try it with some of my other medium format cameras. It has an extended ISO range of 100-400 so you can work with this film in lots of different kinds of conditions to experience different results!

WHERE TO BUY

eBay

Adorama

4. LOMOGRAPHY LADY GREY BLACK & WHITE FILM

I had to throw in a few black and white films because that’s what I truly love the most! I don’t shoot black and white as often anymore because I like to have the option of color and black and white. I can always turn my color photos black and white in post-processing, but it doesn’t work the other way around! I find Lady Grey to be very retro and aged-looking, which I think is perfect for a black and white film. It has quite a bit of graininess to it, but I don’t mind grain as much with black and white photography. It adds character and emotion, in my opinion!

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon

eBay

(click to enlarge images)

5. LOMOGRAPHY BLACK AND WHITE POTSDAM KINO B&W 120 ISO 100

Potsdam Kino 100 is another black and white film by Lomography, and this one has more of an overall grey tone in the highlights, causing it to seem more muted. I find it to have more of a cinematic quality to it though, which is so beautiful and dreamy! I found it just a little harder to get that stark contrast and those extra deep blacks than with the Lady Grey film.

WHERE TO BUY

Adorama

eBay

(click to enlarge images)

If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! I’d love to know what your favorite 120 films are! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine

5 Unique Films to Try to Make Your Photos More Interesting | 35 mm & 120 Gift Ideas for Film Photographers

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

If you know me, you know I get bored easily when it comes to photography. I’m always trying out new filters, weird films, different cameras and tons of tricks to make my photos more unique. I guess you could say I’m a huge proponent of creativity and I don’t believe in creating the same photo twice. The first time I accidentally shot a double exposure with my Holga camera, it inspired me to keep going and to keep challenging myself to make work that truly stood out. When it comes to film photography, an easy way to push yourself out of your comfort zone is to try a film that’s unique in its own right. So, here are 5 different films that I love for those who want to try something new!

LOMOGRAPHY LOMOCHROME PURPLE

This is my absolute favorite of the bunch. Some photographers like to hate on this film, but I think its just because they’re scared of it. Personally, I think it makes for beautiful, surreal landscapes and whimsical portraits. I probably also love it because purple is my favorite color so its as if this film was created just for me. I love it so much. :) You can find this film in 35mm and 120 formats. It’s somewhat pricey so if you’re new to this film, you might want to start with the 35mm version to get more bang for your buck, since you’ll end up getting more frames per roll over the 120 version.

Purchase:
Lomography LomoChrome Puprle 35mm on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 120 film on eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Purple on Adorama

2. LOMOGRAPHY LOMOCHROME TURQUOISE

If you love the LomoChrome Purple, but are looking to expand to something else, the turquoise is another fun option. I don’t love it quite as much as the purple, mostly because I feel that the skin tones are strange when it comes to portraiture with this film. It gives more of an “avatar” vibe, which could be fun if you have a plan! I still love landscapes with this film though. I haven’t used this one quite as much either, so maybe I just need to give it more of a chance. :)

Purchase:

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 35mm on eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 120 film on eBay

KODAK GOLD 200

If you love warm color tones and sunset hues, you should try out Kodak Gold 200. It’s perfect for any sort of beach or tropical vacation because it adds a nice, golden glow to the images. I always bring a few rolls with me on vacation because it’s flattering on skin tones and great for architecture. It’s also pretty affordable, which is another reason you can always find it in my camera bag. Sometimes, it just makes the most sense simply because of the price point. It’s a very sharp film too with a speed of 200, but might not work as well in low light as some of the other films on this list. However, it is the most subtle on the list, so if you’re trying to branch out but don’t want to get too crazy, this would be a good one to start with!

Purchase on Amazon:

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Kodak Gold 200 120 film

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 ISO

I’m sure by now you’re realizing that I love Lomography film. But they offer so many unique options! If you’re looking for a vintage-y, vibe-y black and white film, Lomography has a handful of options that vary in tone, warmth and grain. There’s Earl Grey 120 film or 35 mm film or Lady Grey 120 or 35 mm. For these sample photos, I used Berlin B&W 400, a warm-toned, extra grainy film that really gives that old school film vibe. It’s quite noisy for a 400 film but it adds to the overall aesthetic of the images.

Purchase:

Lomography Earl Grey 120 film on Amazon

Lomography Earl Grey 35 mm film on Amazon

Lomography Lady Grey 120 film on Amazon

Lomography Lady Grey 35 mm on Amazon

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 35mm film on eBay

Lomography Berlin Kino 400 120 film on eBay

LOMOGRAPHY 35MM REDSCALE XR 50-200

Lomography Redscale is definitely a very extreme film to try out. You have to be ready for some crazy results! However, I love how surreal and unusual the images are. I’ve even had some of these photos in art galleries! It’s a great option for getting creative, especially if your client is a musician or artist and are looking for one-of-a-kind photographs.

Purchase on Amazon:

Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 120mm

Purchase on eBay:

Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 35mm film

Or…TRY FILM SOUP!

If you want to get REALLY crazy, you can always try soaking your film in things like vinegar, lemon juice, tea, etc. I have a blog post and YouTube video all about film soup so if this sounds fun to you, check it out here!

I hope these fun and unique films inspired you to step outside the box and try something new! I absolutely love trying out new film because I never know what I’m going to get. Plus, I think it takes my photos to a whole new level. It’s an easy way to make your photos stand out amongst the sea of photographers out there in the world.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to leave any questions and comments below. And don’t forget to check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine